Project "CSautosports 69"

[Chris92]

I didn't need another project, but I have been looking for a 1969 truck to build for a long time. It got so bad that my wife would come home after being out of town to tell me about all of the '67-'72 trucks that she found for us. I didn't want to get one that was complete or even almost finished. I really wanted one with no motor or transmission. I think that I added all of these requirements just so I wouldn't find one for a long time.

Every Friday for years I would check out craigslist. Then in 2010 I found this one only 20 miles from my house. We ended up going over there that day and picking it up. It sat in my shop while I worked on a lot of other projects.

One day my wife and I went to the shop and just started tearing it down.

As of today, 7/4/2015, we have set the motor and transmission between the frame rails. We have a long way to go, but we are really starting to make a lot of progress. I will start from 2010 to current and document the process.
Hopefully to completion in 2016 or so depending on paint.

For me it's also pretty cool to watch how our shop changes over the years.

Thanks!

Chris

[Chris92]

Just playing around with some wheel combinations. I was pretty set on 6 lug Rally Wheels but I just wanted to make sure. I pulled the 20 inch wheels off my Tahoe just to see what they looked like.

Chris

[Chris92]

Starting dis-assembly.

Chris

[Chris92]

Dis-assembly 2. As you can see the truck was not lowered properly. I found a shock cross member to replace the flat metal they replaced the cut out one with. I ended up getting it from another board member.

Chris

[Chris92]

I was VERY surprised to find a 6 lug 3.73 posi rear end in the truck!

[Chris92]

One picture is the corner of parts before I moved them to another building to get them out of the way. The last two pictures are 2 years apart. I wasn't able to get much if anything done on the truck from 2012 to 2014 except pick up a 4L80E transmission and a wide bed I found near Elgin Oklahoma. Even was a factory wood floor bed.

[Elliot949]

Nice project... I am following along...

[Chris92]

Thank you very much!

I will post some more pictures today. The last one I have already posted was from 2014. I really have made a lot of progress the last few months.

Thanks,

Chris

[lolife99]

Great project!
How big is your shop?

[Chris92]

lolife99, I have two buildings. The one shown is a 70x40 but I have a 60x30 next to it. I pretty much use the smaller shop for storage. I try to keep this one pretty clean and use it as a man cave also. It has an upstairs and a downstairs room. The upstairs room is made up like a really small apartment. My wife hangs out there when she comes down to the shop and doesn't feel like working on the car or truck.

I got them off a repo deal my bank had. Ended up being much cheaper than any other options.

Thanks,

Chris

[Chris92]

January 24th I took a load of parts to the local sandblaster. He did a great job.

[Chris92]

Sprayed everything with 2 part epoxy primer to seal everything. I am going to spray it all with Eastwood Extreme Chassis semi gloss black.

I still have to replace the rear shock cross member, trailing arm cross member and the small front cross member.

Chris

[Justin@EntropyRad]

sweet stepper! That shop doesn't suck either!

[Chris92]

Thanks!

That stepside bed was extremely rusted out. The truck was a wide bed and he sold the wide bed and traded for the step side bed. The fenders are the only thing savable at all.

I am going wide bed now.

Chris

[Chris92]

I placed an order from ECE today for a 4/6 drop kit, new crossshafts for my a-arms, front end rebuild kit, front sway bar and front disk brakes! I am pumped and ready to get this thing back on the ground!!! They were extremely helpful on the phone.

Thanks,

Chris

[Chris92]

These are pictures of the three cross members I swapped out.

Chris

[Chris92]

Pictures of the installation of the C-Notches. I am only going with a 4/6 drop but I figured this would be good insurance. That way I don't have to worry about it bottoming out.

Chris

[autocross]

Looking good so far. I'm just getting started on a 71. I'll be watching your progress and maybe learn a thing or two. So far so good!!

[Chris92]

Thanks Autocross!

I can't wait to see the progress on yours also.

[FRANKENSTEINC10]

What color code is that camaro blue if ya don't mind me asking?! And by the way the build is looking great do far

[Chris92]

It is BMW Estoril Blue. It really does look great, just too dark in the sun for me.

[mcbassin]

Looks like an excellent start to a really nice truck. Looking forward to following along.

[Chris92]

I got the 4L80E transmission ready to go. I also ripped off the drum brakes on the rear end, cleaned it up. Primed it and then got painted it with Eastwood Extreme Chassis gloss black.

It's a 3.73 Posi Rear. I am not sure exactly what converter I am going to go with. It will have a lock-up clutch. Once I choose the cam I will decide.

[Chris92]

I got all the parts that are ready to go laid out on the tarp and getting a lot more pumped about starting assembly.

I installed the Poly trailing arms bushing and the rubber rear end stops.

[Chris92]

Such a nice night the wife and I made a chicken strip run in the Nova!